Memory Lane

Chapter One

"The kids are driving me nuts," I told my mate and husband fondly. He laughed and kissed me.

"But you wouldn't have them any other way," he stated and I grinned. I loved my kids far too much to have them change. Three lots of triplets could give anyone a headache though.

Five years ago I had woken up in a hospital, not knowing who or what I was.

"Melanie," was the first word I heard after it. My name, being called by my mate. Arthur had taken his time to explain to me what had happened, who he was and what we were, both individually and to each other. By the time I had been able to wrap my head around everything he had told me, we learned that I was pregnant.

In order to save me, we had to be fully mated so he could share his strength to allow me to heal. Unfortunately for almost two years he saw it as r**e, no matter how much I tried to persuade him otherwise. He refused to touch me in any s****l way and it only ended because I forced his hand.

I gave him an ultimatum. Either he could move on with my blessing and give me more pups himself or I would find a willing male to bed. Safe to say, he didn't like the last option.

Soon after that we married.

We have nine wonderful kids and Arthur had the great idea of naming them in alphabetical order. As much I love my kids, I don't want to have twenty-six.

"I'll be taking the trio to the store with me," I told Arthur. "Are you okay to look after the rest? You know it's took much to take them all."

We had a nickname for each of the triplets: The Terrors; the Troubles and the Trio, in order of age.

"Of course I am. Where are they now?"

"Tearing apart the basement."

Arthur is a pack warrior but a very close friend to the Alpha of our pack. He should have been Beta but stepped down from the position to be with me after my accident.

He rolled his eyes and moved out of the kitchen where he had been eating his dinner when I joined him. His dark hair and bright, unusual eyes were what attracted me when I first woke up. The contrast between them reflect his personality: his dark hair reflects the protective and possessive instincts he has over me and our pups; the lightness of his eyes are his love and eagerness to help with anything and everything in the pack.

When we got to the basement the Terrors were climbing on a large frame Arthur built for them last year. Toys were strewn across the floor and in the middle sat the Troubles. The Trio were running around the room in baby walkers. They hadn't quite got the hang of walking in their own two feet just yet, but if the three Immy was heading there faster than her older siblings.

The noise and chaos died down instantly web Arthur said a simple, "Quiet."

I wish they listened to me like that, I grumbled good naturedly to Arthur through our mind link.

You're too nice to them, he joked back.

"Amber, Bonny, Charlie get down from there," Arthur ordered the kids. "You know you're not allowed to be climbing when your mother or I are not with you. Daniel, Ethan, Freya, pick up the toys and put them away. George, Heather and Immy you're going with your mother to the shop."

The pups did as they were asked quickly, with exception to the Trio. Arthur picked up Heather and Immy, treating them both to a kiss as he did so. I collected George and blew some raspberries on his bare belly. Hearing his giggle made me smile broadly.

Arthur helped me put the Trio into their carseats, gave me a long kiss goodbye and wandered off back into the house.

Driving was one of the few things that had come naturally to me after I had woken up from my accident. Although Arthur had told me what I had been through, I surprisingly didn't have any nervousness or fear when getting back behind the wheel. If anything, I loved driving.

The Trio chatted happily to each other, babbling about nothing on the ten minute drive to the store. I was very lucky that my kids have never been ones to cry very much. Sure, they would groan and gripe but never really cry. The Terrors have started to develop their attitude though and there is at least one tantrum a day, if not a lot of stroppiness.

At the store, I left the Trio in the car for a minute in order to get a trolley cart. I quickly strapped George and Immy into the two kiddie seats and kept hold of Heather as she was the lightest of the three of them. Soon enough I'll be holding one by the hand as we go shopping.

In the store, the Trio were still babbling to each other as I was collecting the items on my shopping list. As much as Heather is the lightest of the Trio, I still restored to putting her in the main part of the cart for little while to give my arms a break.

I was wandering down the craft isle, trying to find something for ideas that I could do with the kids when someone spoke to me.

"It's time to come home now Melanie," was what the person said. He had black hair, similar to my own and brown eyes. They held a pain in their depths but also a joy that I couldn't fathom. A small smile curled at his lip.

"Excuse me?" I asked. I didn't know this man, I hadn't met him in the limited five years my memory allowed. "Do I know you?"

His face visibly dropped.

"I'm your brother."